Despite being in minority in Mainpuri, Firozabad and Mathura, BJP succeeds in winning top posts in zila panchayat chief polls

AGRA: Despite being in minority in district panchayat elections in Mainpuri, Firozabad and Mathura, the BJP has managed to get its nominees elected as district council presidents in these three districts. The party has, in fact, managed to have 67 of its nominees elected across the state and this being touted by party leaders as a “prelude” to the victory in the 2022 assembly polls.
Even in the Samajwadi Party bastion of Mainpuri and Firozabad, the BJP managed victory of its candidates— Archana Bhadauria and Harshita Singh.The BJP had won only eight of the 30 seats in Manipuri and SP had emerged as the single largest party with 13 seats.
Similarly, in Firozabad, the ruling BJP had won only five of the 33 seats backed by the party, SP bagged a near majority with 16 seats. However, the BJP ‘stole’ the show by getting its candidates elected as district Panchayat chief. In Mathura, too, the BJP turned the tables on its opponents despite winning eight of the 33 seats. The BSP has a maximum of 13 seats.
In Aligarh, BJP had won nine of the 47 seats. However, it was still the single largest party here as 21 independents had won elections in the district panchayat polls here. The SP, BSP and RLD had managed to get only 7, 5 and 5 seats respectively.
BJP’s Kishan Singh elected district council chief from Mathura after getting 22 votes against his opponent from SP-RLD Rajendra Sikarvar who got 11 votes. In Aligarh, BJP’s Vijay Singh won with 30 votes from SP’s Archana Yadav as they received 38 and 8 votes respectively.
On the victory of Vijay Singh, his relative and MP Rajveer Singh Raju said that this was expected and the opposition is making all sorts of allegations, as they have lost.
Former Member of Parliament from Mainpuri Tej Pratap Yadav alleged that the state government used its machinery to manage the elections. “Our candidates were unnecessarily harassed and booked under various sections of IPC,” he said, adding that the administration openly helped the ruling party in this “fraud” and “overturning” people’s mandate. He alleged that the DM worked as a BJP agent.
Echoing similar views, former Firozabad MP Akshay Yadav said, “District administration and police are working for the ruling party. They are pressuring our district panchayat members to cast votes in favour of a BJP-backed candidate.”
State cabinet minister Ram Naresh Agnihotri said that the election in Mainpuri was very challenging but the party’s candidate registered victory for the first time in history. On being asked about allegations levelled against BJP, he said that the opposition always cries foul out of their frustration but the elections conducted by the administration were very “fair and transparent”.
Former district panchayat chief from Mathura, Anoop Chaudhary, said BJP is taking advantage of being in the government. He said, “The election process should be changed for transparency.” SP-RLD candidate from Mathura, Rajendra Sikarvar, alleged that district authorities are helping the ruling party for the victory of its candidate. His supporters shouted slogans against the administration.